E.—IB

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perhaps exist at first in the minds of some of the parents of children attending the schools against the youth of the teachers to whom it is proposed to intrust their education ; but, not being able to do what we would, we must do what we can, and I am sure that some, and I believe that most, of these junior assistants will speedily remove such prejudice if they are allowed a fair trial. A glance at the results obtained at some of these schools at the late examination will show that any change in this direction would probably be to the advantage of the children concerned, and I believe that, if it were understood that these positions would be stepping-stones to better situations as soon as the holders of them had proved their fitness for the work and as opportunities should arise, the first obstacle pointed out would probably be removed. Of course it is essential to the success of this scheme that there should be a cordial understanding between the Board and the local Committees, and in consideration of the difficulties to be surmounted and the advantages to be gained the latter should be prepared to waive to some extent their right to recommend teachers for appointment in such cases. There are now eleven pupil-teachers whose term of service has expired, or is about to do so, and there are as many schools where their services might be made available. The salaries of these young persons at the rates fixed by the Board for junior assistants, would, for the first year, amount to £700; and, taking the December returns for my guide, 1 find that the amount earned in capitation by these schools is £716 ss. In the second year the Board's regulations provide for an increase of £20 per annum to the salaries of junior assistants. This would increase the expense by £220, but there is reason to hope that by that time the confidence of the parents will have been gained, and the attendance will become more regular, and that some increase of revenue will consequently follow. I also consider that the very least the inhabitants of such districts should be called upon to do towards the maintenance of their schools is to provide for the cleaning and warming of the buildings by local effort, thus relieving the Board of the annual charge for those purposes, which at the lowest estimate amounts to £110 per annum. Although it will no doubt be found impossible to adopt the foregoing suggestion in its entirety, I think it may be accepted as being the only practicable method of improving the condition of these schools ; and so convinced am I of the uselessness of some of them as at present managed that I should almost prefer seeing them closed altogether until junior assistants can be found willing to take charge of them, or until the Board's funds will permit of more liberal provision for their support. I do not think it necessary to give this year a detailed report upon the manner in which each branch of instruction ia imparted at the various schools, but I must remark that in arithmetic there seems to be a want of the practical element. Too much reliance appears to be placed upon the mechanical application of " rules " only, to the neglect of intelligent and independent reasoning. This is especially noticeable in questions usually worked by what Hamblin Smith calls "the unsatisfactory and misleading process called The Rule of Three." For instance, a question beginning "In what time, &c," was correctly stated, but the answer appeared as a number of pounds sterling; and in another case the height of an ordinary room was found by a similar method to be upwards of 1,000 feet. Again, in Standard IV., the number of scholars who obtained full marks for the " bill " which was required to be made out was very small, and not one scholar in the first ten schools made out the "receipt " correctly. Many omitted the date, others signed their own names (not for, but) instead of the name of the supposed receiver, and others made the buyers of the goods sign the receipt for payment. In fact, I could not find a single receipt that would have been accepted at an ordinary store or office. The number of scholars at each of the above schools who made out the bill correctly is as follows : G-rey-mouth, 3 ; Hokitika, 4 ; Ross, 5 ; Kumara, 0 ; Brunnerton, 1; Oobden, 0 ; Stafford, 1; Groldsborough, 10; Kanieri, 0 ; Paroa, 0. At the smaller schools, where the corresponding question was much easier, the number of scholars who made out the bill correctly was : Greenstone, 2 ; Maori G-ully, 1; Bluespur, 2 ; Hatter's Terrace, 3; No Town, 1; Arahura Road, 2; all the remaining schools north of the Waitaha, none. Now, considering that Standard IV. is the "standard of education," and that this particular branch of arithmetic is, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the one likely to be of most practical benefit to the scholars in after-life, it does seem a pity that greater care is not taken to insure proficiency in this simple but most important part of their school-work. I wish to recommend the more general use of the sequels to the several reading-books. In the two lower standards the children, by frequent repetition, soon come to know the lessons "by heart," when of course they cease to be exercises in reading. I propose, therefore, to signify to the teachers that at the next examination the reading of the four lower standards may be taken from the sequels to their respective reading-books, and the dictation and spelling of the third from the sequel to the second. These books are in stock at the Board's depot, and, I believe, in sufficient quantities to supply each school with one set of books for every class. It is to be hoped that the Board will keep up the stock of Vere Poster's copy-books, which are steadily working their way into favour, with the most satisfactory results. Many teachers who formerly entertained strong prejudices against this system have completely changed their opinions after giving these books a fair trial. Several teachers complained that during the past year they could not obtain certain numbers of these books (generally the low numbers), and were therefore compelled to return to those of Darnell. I have much pleasure in reporting the first attempt (so far as I know), in the district, to extend the influence of education beyond the walls of the school and the limits of the programme, and to bring it to bear upon the ordinary avocations of daily life. The teachers of the Kanieri School have succeeded in developing a taste for gardening amongst the scholars. At the cost of considerable labour, the children have transported the necessary soil to the school-ground, which is situated on a deposit of "tailings" from former-diggings, and have marked out all round the reserve small allotments which are cultivated by them, singly or in partnership. Although the experiment was yet in its infancy, the display of flowers, vegetables, and even fruit trees, was very creditable. This is an example which I think worthy of special mention and of imitation, as, while it does not encroach in the slightest degree upon the ordinary school-work, it affords a rational and healthy occupation for the scholars, especially the girls, during play-hours; and in creating a taste for innocent as well as useful amusements, and